Home All-Stars: Inside Looking Out

Kim Fredericks

01/01/2006

Every one of the 4 million Americans who live in communities with security gates has a reason for buying inside. Celebrities in Beverly Park find solace in knowing stalkers and the paparazzi cannot gain access to their homes, while billionaire financial executives favor the lush and private Conyers Farm, with its easy access to Manhattan. Traditional country club communities still reign, but a new crop of gated communities is attracting a young, active crowd that appreciates the preservation of open space. Whether used for a full-time residence or as a vacation home, secure communities deliver the opportunity for residents to mingle with others who share their lifestyle and their love of the game, be it golf, tennis, polo or bridge. Here is a glimpse into nine of the most sought-after gated places in the country.

Bachelor Gulch, Beaver Creek, Colo.
Nestled in a pristine bowl smattered with aspens and lodgepole pines, Bachelor Gulch rests serenely on the slopes of Beaver Creek Mountain, a ski resort with 1,600 acres of terrain and a reputation for out-servicing its competitors. Beaver Creek itself is gated, but to get past the second gate in Bachelor Gulch, you need to be a resident or a guest of the cushy Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch, the hotel that caters to the community’s 370 residences with amenities such as restaurants and a 21,000-square-foot spa.

Nearly all of the homes provide ski-in/ski-out access, the most coveted amenity in the ski world. They also follow a strict architectural theme dubbed “parkitecture,” a mix of styles inspired by the grand lodges found in Yosemite, Yellowstone, Grand Canyon and Glacier national parks. “This log-and-stone architectural style is what people are looking for,” says Catherine Jones Coburn, a realtor with local firm Slifer Smith & Frampton. “They also want tranquil privacy.” The community is most attractive to CEOs, financiers and young families.

Homeowners in Bachelor Gulch are offered membership to the Bachelor Gulch Club, which delivers ski passes, the chance to avoid the on-mountain lunch rush at the private Zach’s cabin, a slope-side members’ lounge for après-ski, and a first-tracks program that puts members in the powder before everyone else. A concierge assists with vacation planning, while social events such as moonlight snowshoe excursions and wine tastings are designed to lure homeowners from their hot tubs.

Bachelor Gulch buyers do not pay association fees, but they do have to pay a 2 percent transfer tax. Prices start at about $1.3 million for a two-bedroom condo and run as high as $14.5 million for a 10,000-square-foot home on a lot that was the number one pick in the original lottery. Although Slifer Smith & Frampton is the designated realtor for Bachelor Gulch, the most expensive listing is held by Suzi Apple at Gateway Land.

Bachelor Gulch Village, 888.677.8380, www.bachelorgulchvillage.com
Gateway Land, 888.278.9601, www.gatewayland.com

Birnam Wood Golf Club, Montecito, Calif.
Birnam wood appeals to people who appreciate its historic and traditional elements. Set on 220 acres just outside the upper village of Montecito, the community was once a sprawling lemon orchard. The former lemon-packaging facility, a 100-year-old stone structure, now serves as the community clubhouse and is adorned with historical photos from its lemon-packing days.
 
Montecito has long attracted celebrities: Vivian Leigh and Laurence Olivier married in Montecito, Jack and Jackie honeymooned at San Ysidro Ranch and Julia Child spent her last years here. Today you might bump into Oprah Winfrey, Steve Martin or Kirk Douglas. The main draw is the Mediterranean climate, which keeps temperatures in the 70-degree range.

Birnam Wood offers a Robert Trent Jones Sr. golf course, clay- and hard-court tennis and a professional croquet court. “Residents simply have to ask themselves, ‘What do I want to do today?’ ” says local real estate agent Susan Burns. Another popular hobby of residents is gardening, evident in the lush and diverse landscaping seen throughout the community. “Some residents have olive and orange trees, while others choose English gardens with roses and begonias,” says Burns.

Birnam Wood boasts just 140 homes, some with views of both the Pacific and the foothills. Recent listings include a James Morris—designed home on the 10th fairway with a pool for $3.4 million, and a French château set on two acres for $20 million.

Susan Burns, 805.565.8822, www.susanburns.comMaluhia at Wailea, Maui, Hawaii
Catering to multiple-home owners, mostly executives from California who do not want the hassles of building or decorating a new home, Maluhia’s homes come fully furnished. Designed as works of art, each one touts a unique style and signature name. Decor melds Hawaiian architecture with Asian and Western influences; every detail is precise, from the classic tomes stocked on the den’s bookshelves to the slippers placed beside the door that leads to the outdoor Balinese-style garden shower. Indoor living space is designed to flow outdoors to lanais, gardens and pools with ocean views.

Hale Ola, a private residence with panoramic ocean views within the Maluhia at Wailea community. Photograph by Laurie Black. (Click image to enlarge)

A luxurious outdoor shower that leads out to the beach. Photograph by Laurie Black. (Click image to enlarge)

Hale Kei, which translates to “house of one’s pride and glory,” is a 9,300-square-foot home that just sold for $20 million. While it was the last oceanfront property left in the development, none of the homes suffer from a dearth of views or beach access–the 10.5-acre community is terraced, assuring no view is obstructed. A private beach club, complete with catering kitchen and space to entertain 40, is steps from Mokapu, one of Wailea’s white-sand beaches.

A site map of Maluhia. (Click image to enlarge)

With homes garnering the highest prices in Wailea ($8 million to $20 million), Maluhia applies a threefold system to its security. A hefty decorative metal sculpture at the gate designed by artist Satoru Abe secures residents from the outside world, while inside, many homes boast their own gates and high-tech security systems that allow owners to monitor activity on their properties and along the beach. A resident concierge arranges for golf tee times at Wailea’s three courses as well as dinner and spa treatments at the nearby Four Seasons or Grand Wailea resorts.

Maluhia at Wailea, 877.700.5851, 808.874.5851, www.maluhiaatwailea.com

Santa Lucia Preserve, Carmel, Calif.
An immediate transformation takes place when residents drive through the front gate at Santa Lucia Preserve. “They decompress,” says Lisa Guthrie, director of clubs and services. The enclave caters to busy Bay Area families by offering a commodity that is difficult to come by in metropolitan areas–space. The majority (18,000 acres) of the 20,000 acres is secured by a permanent conservation easement, which means that the land will never be developed. “This offers certainty for a way of life,” says Guthrie.

Left photo: The foothills of the Santa Lucia Mountains; Middle photo: The community’s golf clubhouse; Right photo: The third hole of the Tom Fazio—designed course. Left and Right photographs by Joann Dost. Middle photograph by Tom O’neal. (Click images to enlarge)


Just 296 homes will grace Santa Lucia land, each tucked under tree canopies and designed to meld with its surroundings. Lots (from $1 million to $4 million) range in size from five to 100 acres, yet several residents have purchased more than one to create family compounds complete with tennis courts, pool and equestrian facilities. If being surrounded by hundreds of protected acres is not enough assurance of privacy, residents can take comfort in the community’s 24-hour manned gate, fire department and team of employees trained as first-responders.

Santa Lucia boasts an understated atmosphere with a social scene that revolves around recreation. Hikers, bikers and equestrians can access 100 miles of trails, while golfers can hit the links of the private Tom Fazio—designed course. A fully equipped stable keeps 10 horses at the ready, and a swim center occupies kids; events such as opera performances in candlelit groves of redwoods cater to adults. A restored 80-year-old hacienda serves as the community’s gathering spot for dining and offers rooms for homeowners’ guests. “People who come here are in love,” says Guthrie. “They want to spend time with each other, with their families, without distractions.”

Santa Lucia Preserve, 831.626.8200, www.santaluciapreserve.com

Bighorn, Palm Desert, Calif.
It is a nonstop party inside the gates of the Bighorn Golf Club. The community, often referred to as Camp Bighorn, is composed of mostly forty-something weekend warriors from Orange County, San Diego and Los Angeles who come to cut loose, relax and recreate. The club caters to golfers with its two distinctly different courses: an Arthur Hills creation in a mountainous setting and a Tom Fazio design surrounded by canyons. There is also tennis, swimming and a 13,000-square-foot spa, an amenity that often serves as the deal-maker for couples with only one golfer.

The Canyon golf course. Photograph by Ethan Kaminsky. (Click image to enlarge)

“Our residents are young and hip and want to be in a place with a lot of social events,” says Theresa Maggio, director of marketing. The calendar is loaded with everything from yoga classes to golf tournaments to annual events such as a black-tie New Year’s bash and even a snow day. “We bring in 150 tons of snow and build two sledding runs,” says Maggio. The property’s six restaurants also serve as gathering places (the Pour House is the spot to meet for cocktails).

A 10,000-square-foot private residence with multiple water features at Bighorn. Photographs by Ethan Kaminsky. (Click images to enlarge)

Plenty of entertaining also occurs in the 390 private homes already built (priced from $2 million to $13 million), but what happens in Bighorn, stays there. When resident Jerry Weintraub, producer of Ocean’s Twelve, threw a party for the cast, including George Clooney, Matt Damon, Brad Pitt and Catherine Zeta-Jones, he had Wolfgang Puck in the kitchen and Diane Sawyer conducting interviews. “But no outside press found out,” says Maggio. “The event was held in secrecy.”

Tight security is just one of the perks that comes with living at Bighorn. Residents also have the use of three private jets, a limo, an on-site doctor and a full-service business center that makes it possible to work and play all in one place.

Bighorn, 888.551.5577, 760.773.5300, www.bighorngolf.comPalm Beach Polo and Country Club, Wellington, Fla.
Hunter-jumper, polo or dressage–whatever equestrian pursuit they fancy, the horsey set agrees that the Palm Beach Polo and Country Club is the ultimate place to live. “We are the number one hub for winter equestrian events,” says Don Langdon, director of sales. The 125-acre equestrian facility has 15 polo fields, houses up to 4,000 horses and hosts a barrage of must-attend events each season.

A Mediterranean-inspired home and doorway at the Palm Beach Polo and Country Club, which hosts a mélange of equestrian events annually. Photography by Barry Kinsella. (Click images to enlarge)

Although this community has hosted royalty, including Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana, Langdon assures that the vibe among residents is casual, not pompous. “You can wear jeans and sit on the back of your car and watch the game,” he says. Homeowners are attracted to the wide-open spaces. The 2,250-acre community offers everything from condos to sprawling estates, fetching prices from $300,000 to $12 million. Some owners opt to keep their homes within the security of the gates and build barns on larger (50- to 100-acre) tracts of land out­side the club, explains Langdon.

The club also delivers a 19-court tennis center, croquet club and fitness center, and holds events ranging from bridge tournaments to wine tastings at its clubhouse. The most overlooked aspect of this club is the golf amenities. “Equestrians don’t usually have time for golf too, but they have club ­memberships,” says Langdon. For golfers, this means that the community’s two courses–Cypress, designed by Pete and P.B. Dye, and the Dunes, a Scottish links—style course designed by Ron Garl and Jerry Pate–are often uncrowded.

Palm Beach Polo and Country Club, 800.257.1038, 561.798.7110, www.palmbeachpolo.com

Many homes at the tightly guarded Beverly Park in Beverly Hills boast features such as pools, guesthouses and private tennis courts. Top photograph by Estella Snieder. (Click images to enlarge)

Beverly Park, Beverly Hills, Calif.
The twin-gated community of beverly park is the ultimate perch for the Hollywood set. Its back gate provides easy access to Mulholland Drive, the road that leads to the studios in Burbank, and within a five-minute drive of the front gate, residents can hash out the details of their next movies over lunch at the Beverly Hills Hotel or shop on Rodeo Drive for outfits to wear to their next movie premieres.

The 250-acre community delivers privacy with two-acre lots, a community park and 100 acres of open space. Estate homes ranging in size from 15,000 to 50,000 square feet often come equipped with a pool, a guesthouse, the occasional golf hole and views of glimmering Los Angeles and the Santa Monica Mountains. Round-the-clock manned guard stations paired with roaming security teams ensure that the only visitors are friends of the residents, which have included Sylvester Stallone, Denzel Washington, Eddie Murphy and Rod Stewart.

“You get land, luxury living, security and location,” says Mauricio Umansky, an agent with Hilton & Hyland. Umansky currently holds the only two available listings: a 3.5-acre vacant lot ($14.9 million) that comes with permits and plans for a 25,000-square-foot Tuscan-style home de­signed by architect Richard Landry, and a 20,000-square-foot home ($25 million) set on 2.5 acres owned by actor Kelsey Grammer.

Mauricio Umansky, 310.858.5464, www.laluxuryestates.com

Palmetto Bluff, Bluffton, S.C.
The first 10 people to lay money down (up to $4.75 million) for a homesite at Palmetto Bluff were rewarded with some of the most sought-after parcels in the South Carolina Low Country. Designed to be family compounds, the sizable 19- to 37-acre lots in the Headwaters community are bordered by the May River, a private lake and 385 acres of conservation land. “We went through extraordinary lengths to preserve the land and keep a low-key design element,” says marketing vice ­president Tommy Baysden. Surveyors chose three-acre envelopes on each of the 10 sites to ensure the best vistas. In addition to a main house, owners in Headwaters may build guest cottages and other outbuildings to complete the family retreat.

Top photo: A quaint residential street within Palmetto Bluff. Bottom photo: The Jack Nicklaus—designed golf course in the May River Forest neighborhood. (Click images to enlarge)

The 20,000-acre Palmetto Bluff, which opened in 2003, is part nature preserve and part community. The village, fashioned after charming areas such as Aspen, Nantucket and Carmel, serves as the heart of the community and comprises residences, retail shops and a spa. When they pass through the gate, homeowners–a mix of full-time executives who work in Savannah and Hilton Head and preretirement fifty-somethings–enter their own private sanctuary.

About one-third of the property has been designated as conservation land, while the rest is geared to activity. A Jack Nicklaus golf course, which uses eco-friendly paspalum grass, is the centerpiece of the May River Forest neighborhood, which has 2,800 homesites ($325,000 to $2.5 million) set on one to eight acres. The Bluff’s three neighborhoods are linked by a trail system. A boating facility, equestrian center, clubhouse and sports campus serving as a center for tennis, croquet and bocce are also part of the plans.

Palmetto Bluff, 843.757.3333, www.palmetto-bluff.comConyers Farm, Greenwich, Conn.
In just 45 minutes, financial tycoons can trade Wall Street gray for the rolling greens of Conyers Farm. Through the guard gate and past the frolicking polo ponies at the Greenwich Polo Club are some of the most desirable estates in the country. The original 1,500-acre farm was divided into 10-acre lots, but many owners have purchased two, doubling their property. Just 96 homes dot the landscape of mature trees, lakes and ponds. "You’d think you were in Kentucky or England," says Elizabeth Douthit, a broker for Round Hill Partners who often handles estates at Conyers Farm.

The minimum requirement for homes here is 8,000 square feet, but most start at 12,000, says Douthit, and they often have a guesthouse, pool, poolhouse, tennis court, stables and the occasional par-3 golf hole. Nothing at Conyers Farm is built without the approval of the association, which carefully maintains the neighborhood’s architectural aesthetic. "Setbacks are strict to keep the estatelike feeling, and development is controlled, but that’s what makes the place so valuable," says Douthit.

While property taxes in Greenwich are low, real estate in Conyers Farm is pricey. In August 2004, an 80-acre estate with a main house, guesthouse and 22-stall horse barn sold in less than three months for a record-setting $45 million. One of the most coveted lots, a 21-acre parcel, sold for $17.5 million, making a listing for a 10-acre piece of land currently listed at $4 million seem reasonable.

Those who buy here–including many Wall Street moguls and entertainment honchos such as Ron Howard and WWE’s Vince McMahon–crave privacy, which is enforced by 24-hour manned guard gates and an on-foot security brigade. "Those who are well-known like Conyers Farm because no one hounds them. They can’t get this lifestyle on the West Coast," says Douthit.

Elizabeth Douthit, 203.962.3424, 203.861.0410, www.estate-agency.com